PCB approves surplus budget for 2026-27, boosts domestic cricket funding

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Board of Governors on Monday unanimously approved a surplus budget for the 2026-27 financial year during its 84th meeting, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi at Gaddafi Stadium.

The board also approved the budget for the 12th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and decided to make the tournament administratively and financially independent.

As part of the new financial plan, funding for domestic cricket has been increased from Rs3 billion to Rs4 billion. The board also approved the format and payment mechanism for the national team’s new central contracts.

In a major boost for domestic cricketers, the match fee for players participating in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy has been raised from Rs30,000 to Rs100,000 per match, while reserve players will now receive Rs50,000, up from Rs15,000.

The Board of Governors also approved funding for women’s One-Day and T20 tournaments, sanctioned a minimum monthly salary of Rs42,000 for regional ground staff, and approved the operationalisation of 12 additional cricket grounds across the country.

A total of Rs6.7 billion has been allocated for the upgradation of National Bank Stadium and other cricket infrastructure, while funding was also approved for the installation of a biomechanics machine at the Lahore High Performance Centre.

PCB Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza briefed the board on the key features of the budget and its financial projections.

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The meeting was attended by Board of Governors members, including Zaheer Abbas, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Anwar Ghani, Ismail Qureshi, Sajjad Khokhar, Tanveer Ahmed, Adnan Malik, Additional Secretary Cabinet Division Mir Hassan Naqvi, PCB Chief Operating Officer Sameer Ahmed, PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer and other board officials.